Conveyer



Sept. 10,1946. ,E. E. BRUNNER CONVEYER Original Filed-July 6, 1943 9Sheets-Sheet 1 i v inventor E. E. BRUNNE R (Ittorneu Sept-"10, 1946- YE. E. BQUNNER Re 22,789

CONVEYER Original Filed July 6, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor I.EI.QE.B-R'UNNER Gttorncg Sept. 10, 1946'.

E. E; BRUNNER CONVEYER 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 6, 19433nnentor is. BRUNNQEIR Wm (Ittorneg Pt- 0, 19 E. E. BRUNNER Re 22,789

Y -CONVEYER Original Filed-July 6, 1943 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 SnpentorQ$Q1MAV Gttonieg.

' Sept. 10, 1946. 1 E. B'RUNNER donvmmn 9 Sheets-Sheet Original FiledJuly 6, 194:-

(Ittbrneg Sept. 10, 1946. E. E. BRUNNER CONVEYER 9 Sheets-Sheet 6Original Filed July 6, 1943 3nnentor E. BRUNNER attorney Sept. 10, 1946.

E. E. BRUNNER CONVEYER Original Filed July 6, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 1ZSnventor E. E. BRUNNER Gttbmeg P 1946- l I E. E. BRUNNER Re 22,789

CONVEYER Original Filed July 6, 1943 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 3nnentor E. E.BRUNNER Sept. 10, 1946. E. B RUNNER COHVEYER Original Filed July e, 19439 Sheets-Sheet 9 Snnentor E. E. BRUNNER unorney Reissued Sept. 10, 1946CONVEYER Eugene E. Brunner, York, Pa., assignor to Read Machinery Co.Inc., York, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original No. 2,383,932,dated September 4, 1945, Serial No. 493,639, July 6, 1943. Applicationfor reissue January 8, 1946, Serial No. 639,733

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a conveyer for conveying flowable solidmaterial of the type in which a conveying element having transverselyextended flights is drawn through a conduit or casing.

An object of the invention is to provide an i1.-- proved conveyer of thecharacter specified having a novel and improved conveying elementparticularly designed to be arranged to travel in the vertical andhorizontal planes in a number of directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved poly-planeconveyer having a"casing providing a pair of tubes having a slot formedlengthwise therebetween, and having a conveyer element disposed Withinthe casing and including an endless belt disposed in one ofthe tubes anda series of flights disposed in the other tube and connected totheendless belt by means extending through the slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyerhaving a conveyer element including an endless belt and a series or"flight units, the main body portion of which is formed of sheet metalhaving one or more openings therein, a reinforcing rib of sheet metalfastened edgewise to one face of the main'body of each flight unitandbeing of triangular form with the base portion of the rib disposedadjacent to one side edge of the main body portion, a bracket secured tothe main body portion and to the base portion of the reinforcing rib andattached to the endless belt.

Anothe object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyer inwhich the constituent elements are assembled and proportioned so thatthe conveyer conveys the material n masse in a circuit having manydirections and extending through a combination of horizontal, verticaland angular planes.

With the foregoing and other objects andadvantages, in view, theinvention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of theFig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of i 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-4; of Fi 1;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 1 1" of s; v i

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a modification;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8showing another form of the device;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a still further form of thedevice;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of another form of the device;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View showing another form of conveyer belt;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of another form of conveyer belt;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a still further form of conveyer belt; 7

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of another form of conveyer belt;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of another form of conveyer belt;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of another form of conveyer belt.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing another form of conveyer'belt;

Fig. 20 is a plan view showing another form of conveyer;

Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the conveyer shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the structure shown inFig. 21; and

Fig. 23 is a detail view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 21,the casing being removed.

The present invention contemplates a conveyer comprising a casingprovided with an inlet and one or more outlets, and with a conveyerelement ing ll having a horizontal leg l2, a vertical leg l3, a, secondhorizontal leg composed of sections l4, I5 and [6 in the form of a U, asecond vertical leg l1, and finally a section I8 of the horizontal leg I2.

Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conveyer may comprise a singlepoly-plane loop commencing with an inlet 2| in the leg I2 and ending atmined direction. At the end of the leg I2, the.

conveyer may be formed with a bent or curved portion 22 from which ahorizontal leg 23 may extend for a suitable distance to the lower end ofthe vertical leg I3. 1

Connecting the ends of t e legs I3 and 23 is an arcuatesection 24, whichmay be in the nature of a right angle bend, as shown in Fig. 2;

A similar arcuate section 25 may connect the upper end of the leg I3 toan end of the leg I4, so that the sections 23, 24, I3, 25 and I4 of theconveyer are all arranged in substantially the same vertical plane, asshown in Fig. l.

Since the legs I4, I5 and I6 may all lie in sub stantially the samehorizontal plane, an arcuate section or right angle bend 26 may connectleg I4 with leg: l5,-and a similar arcuate portion 21 may connect leg I5with leg I6.

In the arrangement-shown in Fig. 1, legs I4 and I6 are arrangedsubstantially parallel in the same horizontal plane, and leg I5 isdisposed substantially at right angles thereto, so that in plan thisportion of the conveyer is in the form of a U. The distance between thelegs I4 and It may be varied to suit the installation conditions of theconveyer. Likewise, the length or height of the legs-I3 and I1 may bevaried to suit conditions.

The curved joints or elbows 26 and 21are shown arranged inahorizontalplane.

The legs I6 and I1 may be connected by a vertically arranged arcuatesection or elbow 28, and the legs l1 and I8 may be connected by asimilarly arranged arcuate section or elbow 29.

The leg I8 may be arranged in the same horizontal plane with the leg I2,being connected thereto by an arcuate section or elbow 30 and a shortstraight section 3| which joins the arcuate section or elbow 30 with theend of inlet 2|.

I Since the conveyer casing is in the form of a continuous unbrokenloop, discharge outlets may be arranged at suitable points throughoutthe length of the conveyor, suchas indicated at 32 and 33. It will beunderstood, however, that the location of the discharge outlets shown inFigs. 1 and-2, is for illustrative purposes only, and that these outletscan be locatedat any desired points in the conveyer, and also as manyoutlets can be provided as desired. This is also true of the location ofthe inlet 2|, since the same mat be located in the conveyer at anyconvenient point.

' A suitable gate 34 of any usual or preferred construction may beprovided at each outlet for controlling the flow of materialtherethrough.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, which illustrate the detailconstruction of one form of the improved conveyer, the casing comprisestwo sections 4| and 42.

'As shown best in Fig. 8, the section 4| of the conveyer casing may bein the form of a tube or conduit, substantially circular in crosssection.

, A slot 43 is formed in the tubular wall of the casing between the twosections 4| and 42 thereof, saidslot being coextensive with the lengthof the casing.

The conveying element of the present invention 7 each flight.

' circuit.

comprises an endless belt 45 having a series of flights 46 mountedthereon at spaced intervals.

The belt 45 is disposed within the section 42 of the casing, and theflights 46 are disposed with in the section 4|, the configuration of thecasing being such that both portions of the conveying element aredisposed in spaced relation with respect to the wall of the casing.

The belt 45 is preferably formed with three V- shaped ribs 41, 48 and49, and a fourth rib 50 which may be disposed in the slot 43 when thecasing is constructed in the manner shown.

The ribs 41 and 49 are diametrically disposed,

the rib 41 constituting an upper rib and the rib 49 constituting a lowerrib.

The ribs 48 and 5B are diametrically disposed, the rib 48 constitutingan outer laterally disposed rib and the rib 5% constituting an innerlaterally disposed rib.

The purpose of arranging the ribs 41, 48, 49 and 59 at right angles toeach other in the manner shown in Fig. 8 will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Each flight 46 may be formed from sheet metal or plate steel of suitablegauge.

Secured to one face of each flight 46 is a reinforcing rib 5| (see Figs.7 and 8) of triangular form and having a side or leg portion 51 disposedadjacent to the side edge 56 of the flight.

One or more openings 52 may be formed in These openings may be of anysize and have any desired configuration.

Secured to the edge portion 56 of each flight 46 and to the portion 51of each rib 5|, is a bracket 53 adapted to be mounted on the rib 5|] ofthe conveyor belt in the manner shown best in Figs. 7 and 8, and securedthereto by means of pins, screws, bolts, rivets, or other suitablefastening means 54. I

In the form of belt shown in Fig. 8, the rib 5!! of th belt issubstantially rectangular in cross section and the brackets 53 arecorrespondingly formed to be rigidly or tightly mounted on said rib.

Arranged at suitable points throughout the length of the casing II, is aseries of sheaves BI, 62, 63, 54, 65, 66, 61 and 68.

It will be understood that any number of sheaves may be installed in theconveyer, de-' pending upon the configuration and length of the In thepresent instance a sheave is shown disposed at each point in theconveyor casing I| having an elbow or arcuate section. Some of thesheaves have horizontal axes so as to be vertically disposed and othersheaves have vertical axes so as to be horizontally disposed. Not all ofthe sheaves are shown in detail in the drawings, since all of thesheaves may be similar- 1y constructed, as shown in Figs. 4 and '7.

Since the conveying element is enclosed by the casing II, each sheaveshould also be enclosed. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 sheave 6| isenclosed by a casing 1|, and sheaves 62 to- 6B inclusive are likewiseenclosed by casings 12 to 18, inclusive, respectively.

These enclosures for the several sheaves may be constructed asextensions of the casing section 4 I as shown in Fig. 4.

Each enclosure 1| to 18 inclusive is provided with bearings 19 for theshafts 6| to 88 inclusive of the sheaves 6| to 68 inclusive,respectively.

Each sheave has a groove 89 for receiving a rib of the belt 45.

In order that the flights 46 and the belt 45 will remain at all times inthe same position within the casing II without any tendency to twist orturn out of such position while traveling through th casing, the sheavesare so arranged that, in the horizontal legs of the conveyer, the rib 48of the belt is disposed in the groove 89 of the sheaves BI, 64, 65 and68, which said sheaves are the several sheaves of the conveyer havingvertically disposed axles or shafts (see Fig. 6); the rib 41 issupported by the grooves of the sheaves 62 and G1; and the rib 49 issupported by the grooves of thesheaves B3 and 65 (see Fig. 4), saidsheaves 62, '6 1, 63 and 6 5 being the several sheaves having thehorizontally disposed axles or shafts. Thus, it will be noted that inthe form of conveyer shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there are two sets ofvertically disposed sheaves, one setof sheaves being adapted to engagewith the rib 49 to support the conveying element in the manner shown inFig. 4, and the other set of sheaves being adapted to engage the rib 41,in the portion of the conveyer such as shown at the bottom of Fig. 3.The horizontally disposed sheaves which engage the rib 48 of the beltare adapted to support the conveying element throughout the horizontallegs of the conveyer, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that with theprovision of the three ribs 41, 48 and 49, with which thebelt 45 isformed, it is possible to construct the conveyer with the series ofhorizontal and vertical legs, heretofore referred to, all of which legsmay extend in numerous directions, such as is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The invention, however, is not limited tothe precise configuration of conveyer shown, since, due to the manner inwhich the conveying element is constructed, the apparatus is capable ofbeing arranged in many other forms without departing from the inVention. Also it will be understood that the sheaves can be located at anydesired positions throughoutthe conveyer.

The belt 45 can be formed of suitable molded material, reinforced in anymanner, and in order to'limit to a minimum the amount of stretching ofthe material used in constructing the belt 45, a cablev or similarelement 55 can be embedded lengthwise within the molded material, asshown in Fig. 8.

For the purpose of pulling the conveying element through the casing, anelectric motor or other suitabl prime mover device 90 can be operativelyconnected to a shaft of one of the sheaves. As shown in Fig. l, theshaft 83 of sheave'63 is operatively connected to motor on.

Another form of casing III is shown in Fig. 9, having a rectangulartubular section II 2 fora correspondingly formed flight I I3 and asmaller tubular section I I4 for the conveyer.belt. The conveyer belt ofthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 is similar in construction tothe belt 45 heretofore described. A slot H5 is formed between the twotubular sections H2 and H4 of the casing II I, said slot being similarto the slot 43 shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a casing I2I having a section I22 for a flight I23 ofelliptical form, and a section I24 for the conveyer belt. In otherrespects the form of the conveyer shown in Fig. 10 is similar to theform of conveyer shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. This form of conveyeris adapted to be used for transporting materials found not suitable forconveying in the forms of conveyers shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Although the casing of the conveyer may be constructed of any suitablematerial, sheet metal the invention the flights I13 are of suitablegauge will, in most instances, be found to be the best material for usein forming the several sections of the conveyer casing. In Fig. 8, thecasin section 4I is-shown as being formed of a single piece of sheetmetal of suitable length bent lengthwise to substantially circular form,and the casing section 42 may also be formed of a. single piece of sheetmetal bent lengthwise to the desired configuration to enclose the belt45 in the manner shown. In order to secure the two sections II, 42together, section 42 may be formed with longitudinally extendingoutwardly projecting flanges 44 adapted to be secured to thelongitudinal edge of the section M by any suitable meanssuch as bywelding. This manner of constructing the sections of the conveyer casingmay also be followed in forming the conveyers of the forms shown also inFigs. 9 and 10.

On the other hand, the conveyer casing may be formed of twocomplementary sections I3I and I32 having marginal flanges I33detachably secured together by bolts I34, as shown in Fig. 11.

Another form of the invention is shown in Fig. 12, in which the conveyercasing MI is formed with a section I42 of rectangular cross section anda section I43 of polygonal cross section.

The belt I44 of the conveyer element which is enclosed by section I43,is similar in construction to the belt 45 heretofore referred to, andsaid casing section I43 may be similar in form to the section 42 shownin Fig. 8.

Individual U-shaped flight members I45, each having an arm formed with abracket I46 fixed to the belt I44 in the manner shown in Fig. 8, aredisposed within the rectangular section I42 of the casing I4 I.

The section M3 is carried by the top I and a flange I 48 of the sidewall I49 of the Section M2, the flange I48 bein spaced from the top I i?asuitable distance so as to provide a slot or gap I50 in which thebracket I46 and rib I5I of the belt I44 are disposed.

Fig. 13 illustrates a modified form of belt I55 adapted for use with aconveyer of the type herein described. said belt I55 having three ribsI56, I57 and I58. These ribs are angularly disposed with respect to eachother and project outwardly from the body of the belt on center linesdisposed approximately degrees apart. Between any two of the angularlydisposed ribs, the belt I55 may be formed with a fourth rib I59 forreceiving the bracket I55 of flight IBI adapted to be attached to thebelt in the manner heretofore described. With the belt of the form shownin Fig. 13, the several sheaves I62, I63 and IE4 can be arranged in themanner shown so that the belt will be guided in paths extending in aplurality of directions.

In some instances it may be desirable to construct the conveyer withV-belt I66, shown in Fig. 14, or with the type of V-belt I51 shown inFig. 15.

In other cases it may be desirable to utilize the double V-belt of theform shown in Fig. 16, in which the belt has a pair of oppositelyprojecting V-shaped ribs I59 and I19 adapted to be supported by sheavesIII and I 72, respectively, arranged in the manner shown. In this formof supported from the belt so as to project laterally therefrom.

Fig. 17 illustrates another form of double V- belt for the conveyer,comprising two V-shaped ribs I16, I II disposed at an angle ofapproximately 99 degrees with respect to each other, for

7 sheaves arranged both vertically and horizontally, as shown at I18,I19, respectively.

18 shows the brackets [8| for the flights I82 embedded in the body ofthe belt I83, the flights being adapted to be detachably secured to thebelt by screws I84 mounted in the brackets in the manner shown. Belt [83is substantially similar to the belt @5.

Another manner of securing the flights to the belt is shown in Fig. 19,wherein the belt I85 has brackets I81 embedded therein, andthe flightsI88 are secured to said brackets by screws I89, mounted in a suitableinternally threaded socket is!) formed in the bracket I81.

As shown in Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive, the conveyer can be constructedwith spirals 21H, 202, respectively, located at suitable points. Thestructural. features of this form of conveyer are similar to those shownin Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. However, the provision of the spiral sectionsMI, 202 enables the conveyer to be so installed that the direction offlight, for instance towards the right, can be obtained by utilizing aspiral section in which the conveying element moves in acounterclockwisedirection, as shown in Fig.

The conveying element 293 (Fig. 23) may be guided through the spiralsections MI, 292, by constructing the casing 2124 in the form of aspiral, as shown in Fig. 22.

The dominant idea or feature of the present invention is that theconveyer has its constituent elements assembled and proportioned so thatit conveys the material en masse in a circuit having many directions andextending through a cominatlon of horizontal, vertical, inclined andangular planes. In short, the circuit of the conveyer in addition toextending through vertical and horizontal planes, also extends in thehorizontal and vertical planes to the left and to the right, of materialobtained by the conveyer of the present invention is such that thematerial is conducted through a single endless conduit'in manydirections, and the material can be discharged from the conveyer at anynumber of points located at any desired place therein.

With a conveyer made in accordance with this invention, great efficiencyis attained in transporting the material and should a choke occur, I

the conveyer element will pull through the material and thus reduce therisk of breaking the belt and further in the circuit, should an outletbe blocked, the material will be carried round to the next outlet orround and round until the clo'ggcd'outlet is free, automaticallycontrolling the inlet.

Whilethe preferred embodiments of the invention have been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a conveyer, an endless conveying element adapted to be drawnthrough an endless casing, comprising a series of flight units, each ofsaid flight units having a main body portion formed of sheet metal, areinforcing rib of sheet metal fastened edgewise to one face of the mainbody and having an end portion disposed substantially That is to say,the direction of the flow units to one of the ribs of said belt, andsheaves mounted in the conveyer casing for engaging other ribs of saidbelt for guiding the conveying element through said casing. I g

'2. In a conveyer of the character described, in combination, aconveyer-element including an endless belt having a series of radiallydisposed ribs formed lengthwise thereof and adapted to engage thesurfaces of pulleys arranged with their axes at difi'eren-t angles sothat the beltis retained from twisting in a predeterminedposition,

a plurality of flights for the materialto be conveyed and means carriedby said belt for sup porting theflights therefrom.

3; A conveyerof the character prising a casing providing a pai'rof tubes'ar ranged side'by side and having commonwa-lls defining a slot thatextends lengthwiseof the conveyer, a conveying element enclosedby'thecasing and including an endless belt disposed in one tube andhaving a continuous rib projecting therefrom and disposed within saidslot, and a. series of flights disposed in the other tube, means forconnecting said flights to the rib of said end-; less belt, and sheavesmounted in the conveyer casing for engaging said belt for guiding theconveying element through said casing, the belt and the flights of saidconveying element being "sup ported by said sheaves out of contact withthe walls of said casing throughout the entire length of said conveyer.

4. In a conveyer of the character described, in

combination, a conveyer-casing providing a pair of endless tubes havinga slot formed lengthwise of the conveyer therebetween, one of said tubesconstituting a trough through which the material is conveyed, an endlessbelt Within the other tube, a plurality of flights disposed within thematerial conveying tube, a continuous rib projecting from said belt anddisposed within said slot, m eansfor' connecting said flights to the ribof said endless belt, other ribs for-med lengthwise of said belt andprojecting radially with respect to the main,

body of the belt, and sheaves mounted in the conveyer casing forengaging the otheeribs of said belt for guiding the belt through saidcasingfthe belt and the flights being supported solelyby said sheavesout of contact with thewa'lls ofsaid' casing throughout the entirelength of said conveyer, said sheaves being arranged to retain the beltfrom twisting from a predetermined position within the casing,

5. In a conveyer of the character described, in

combination, a conveyer element including an endless belt having aseries of radially disposed ribs formed lengthwise thereof; pulleysarranged with their axes at different angles and engaging combination, aconveyer casing providing a pair of endless tubes having a slot formedlengthwise of the conveyer therebetween, one of said tubes constitutinga trough through which the material is conveyed, a plurality of flightsdisposed Within the material conveying tube, an endless belt-within theother tube, said belt havinga series of radially disposed ribs formedlengthwise thereof, pulleys carried by said conveyer casing arranged atdifferent angles and engaging the ribs for 'guiding said belt and forretaining it against twisting from a predetermined position, and

described; com- 9 means carried by said belt for supporting said flightstherefrom.

7. In a conveyer, the combination of a conveyor casing providing a pairof endless tubes having therebetween a slot formed lengthwise of theconveyer, said conveyor tubes including longitudinally, upwardly andtransversely extending legs with arcuate sections connecting said legs,one of said tubes constituting a trough through which material isconveyed, a plurality of flights disposed within the material conveyingtube, an endless belt within the other tube, said belt having a seriesof radially disposed ribs formed lengthwise thereof, pulleys in thearcuate sections of said belt containing tube arranged at differentangles and engaging the rib-s for guiding said belt for retaining itagainst twisting from a predetermined position, and means carried bysaid belt for supporting the flights therefrom.

8. In a conveyer, a conveyor casing of irregular of flights disposedWithin the material conveying tube, means for attaching the flights tosaid belt, said belt having a series of angularly related radiallydisposed ribs formed lengthwise thereof,

and pulleys for engaging each of said plurality of ribs, the axis ofeach pulley being at right angles with respect to the radial center lineof the ribit engages.

9. In a conveycr, the combination of a conveyer casing providing a pairof endless tubes having therebetween a slot formed lengthwise of theconveyor, said conveyer tubes including longitudinally, upwardly andtransversely extending legs with arcuate sections connecting said legs,one of said tubes constituting a trough through which material isconveyed, an endless belt within the other tube, a plurality of flightsdisposed within the material conveying tube, means carried by said beltfor supporting the flights therefrom, said belt having a series ofradially disposed ribs formed lengthwise thereof, the longitudinally,upwardly and transversely extending legs of said endless belt containingtube having its inside surface conforming with the shape of said beltand fitting closely thereabout for retaining said belt against twistingfrom a predetermined position, and anti-friction means in the arcuatesections of said endless belt containing tube for guiding said beltthrough said arcuate sections.

EUGENE E. BRUNNER.

